Italy

Marianna Bertagnolli/Associated Press

Italy is a unitary parliamentary republic in Southern Europe, bordering several neighboring countries to the north and consisting of the entire Italian peninsula to the south. It includes the Mediterranean islands of Sicily and Sardinia, and encompasses the sovereign states of San Marino and Vatican City. Rome, its capital, was the political and religious center of the Western World for centuries.

Italy emerged from a fascist dictatorship under Benito Mussolini to become a democracy after World War II, later helping to found both NATO and the European Union. Having enjoyed a prolonged economic boom beginning in the 1940s, Italy has since suffered from economic stagnation and political paralysis, as well as government malfeasance typified by the misdeeds of former Prime Min Silvio Berlusconi. Matteo Renzi, who replaced Enrico Letta as prime minister in 2014, faces the challenge of shaking the country out of its economic malaise and rooting out corruption.

Learn more about Italy. Scroll below to view our archive of articles and chronology of latest news.

Chronology of Coverage

Jul. 29, 2015

Rome Mayor Ignazio Marino rearranges his executive council and appoints four new councilors responsible for transportation, schools and budget, in response to disparagement for mishandling city service issues. MORE

Jul. 23, 2015

Rome Journal; Roman citizens blame Mayor Ignazio Marino for not stopping city’s downward slide; squeaky clean politician was elected in 2013 for his honesty but Romans, frustrated by his lack of connections, costly corruption investigations and obsession with foreign interests, say job of fixing complex city is way out of his league. MORE

Jul. 23, 2015

Italian police arrest two men for allegedly plotting terrorist attacks on national landmarks and posting online threatening messages supporting Islamic State. MORE

Jul. 22, 2015

Ventimiglia Journal; more than 200 migrants, many trying to make their way to Britain, Germany and Norway, are stranded in Ventimiglia, Italy, and in other places near French-Italian border that is theoretically open. MORE

Jul. 12, 2015

Jul. 10, 2015

Casal Di Principe Journal; authorities in Italian town Casal Di Principe convert confiscated villa of local mob boss into temporary museum; two prominent Italian art institutions have lent masterworks for exhibit that is drawing tourists to area once known for its high crime and bloodshed. MORE

Jul. 9, 2015

Naples court finds former Italian Prime Min Silvio Berlusconi guilty of corruption, sentencing him to three years and bans him from public office. MORE

Jun. 16, 2015

Italian city Siena is struggling to cope with near collapse of Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena, as foundation that owned bank used to fund wide variety of social services and events; is seeking to draw in outside investment, particularly from pharmaceutical companies, mirroring countrywide effort to overcome Italy's reputation of being bad place for business in order to spur economic growth. MORE

Jun. 11, 2015

Russia's Pres Vladimir V Putin meets privately with Pope Francis at Vatican, where he is urged to comply with Minsk accords for Ukrainian peace; Putin's second audience with the pontiff in 18 months underscores Russian leader's comfort zone in Italy despite European Union's united effort to sanction and isolate him. MORE

Jun. 10, 2015

Italy's Foreign Ministry reports Ignazio Scaravilli, Italian doctor kidnapped in Libya in January, has been freed and is in good condition. MORE

Jun. 8, 2015

Politicians in Italy's north say they will not shelter any more migrants rescued in Mediterranean Sea; announcement comes as rescuers pluck 6,000 more migrants from waters. MORE

Jun. 7, 2015

Jun. 7, 2015

Jun. 5, 2015

Naples, Italy, Mayor Luigi de Magistris visits New York City's Little Italy, strengthening ties between Italy and the city's Italian enclave. MORE

May. 27, 2015

Twenty-five irreplaceable artifacts, which had been looted from Italy and smuggled into United States, are recovered and returned through joint efforts of United States' Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Italian art theft squad Carabinieri Tutela Patrimonio Culturale. MORE

May. 24, 2015

May. 22, 2015

Character witnesses in Italy come forward to vouch for whereabouts of Tunisian man Abdelmajid Touil, who was arrested by Italian authorities in connection with March terrorist attack on National Bardo Museum in Tunis. MORE

May. 21, 2015

Italian police announce arrest of Moroccan man Abdelmajid Touil, suspected of involvement in attack on a museum in Tunisia in March that killed 22 people; charges against Touil could include terrorism and murder. MORE

May. 17, 2015

Restaurants offering versions of classic American foods have sprung up all over Milan, Italy. MORE

May. 16, 2015

Bulldozers raze migrant encampment known as Ponte Mammolo in Rome, destroying possessions and leaving camp residents to scramble for new place to live; move is prompted by anxieties over wave of African migrants flooding into Europe MORE

May. 14, 2015

Italian nurse who had been working with aid group Emergency in Sierra Leone tests positive for Ebola virus upon his return to Italy and is hospitalized in an infectious diseases hospital in Rome. MORE

May. 12, 2015

Outbreak of bacterium Xylella fastidiosa, which has destroyed vineyards and citrus groves in California and Brazil, is rampant in Italy's Salento peninsula, killing centuries-old olive trees and threatening olive oil production and traditional way of life; plants imported from Costa Rica may be how bacteria came into country; European Commission, fearing spread of disease, endorses quarantine and plans policy of swift culling in case of new outbreaks. MORE

May. 11, 2015

Private organizations are increasing their efforts to rescue migrants stranded off shore of Italy, as humanitarian aid groups charge that European governments have failed to provide help necessary for migrants to reach safety; private rescue efforts come as European Union prepares to launch military operations against smuggling rings that victimize desperate migrants. MORE

May. 7, 2015

Christoph Buchel's controversial Venice Biennale installation, in which he transforms Catholic church near Venice's historic center into temporary functioning mosque, is testing Italy's tolerance during time of rising Islamophobia and fears of terrorism committed in name of Islam. MORE

May. 6, 2015

Witnesses report seeing deflating of rubber boat filled with migrants in Mediterranean, causing as many as 40 people to drown before merchant ship could rescue them; Italian officials say almost 6,000 people were rescued in Mediterranean in 48-hour period; latest shipwreck brings number of deaths of people trying to cross the sea to more than 1,800. MORE

May. 5, 2015

Samantha Cristoforetti, first Italian woman in space, makes first cup of espresso aboard International Space Station using specially-designed machine; procedure, which demonstrates how hot fluids under high pressure react in weightless environment, is among experiments Cristoforetti is scheduled to conduct on her mission. MORE

May. 3, 2015

Nuns in Italy are helping migrant women forced into prostitution to escape their handlers and gain legal documents and employment skills via network of shelters and collectives. MORE

Apr. 25, 2015

Italian authorities arrest nine people in investigation of Al Qaeda-linked terrorist cell based in Sardinia; say group once planned attack on Vatican but did not follow through with it; nine additional suspects remain at large. MORE

Apr. 23, 2015

Milan Journal; Expo Milano 2015, next world's fair, opens May 1, bringing worry and hope to city; fair is expected to generate about 10 billion euros, or $10.7 billion and create thousands of jobs, but delays, cost overruns and corruption charges have some concerned. MORE

Apr. 22, 2015

Italian authorities arrest Mohammed Ali Malek, captain of migrant ship that capsized off coast of Libya killing more than 800 people, on suspicion of multiple homicide; few survivors say he made 'wrong manuevers' and collided with rescue ship, causing tragedy. MORE

Apr. 17, 2015

Apr. 15, 2015

Luciano Faggiano's home repair project in Lecce, Italy, uncovered subterranean world dating back before birth of Jesus, including tomb, granary, chapel and etchings from Knights Templar; his trattoria has become museum where relics continue to be unearthed; ancient discoveries can pose problem for urban planning. MORE

Apr. 15, 2015

Save the Children aid organization says 400 people may have drowned in capsizing of Reggio Calabria off Libyan coast; Italian coast guard helped rescue 144 people and has found nine bodies. MORE

Apr. 10, 2015

Apr. 9, 2015

Padua Journal; workers at prestige book printer Editoriale Zanardi in Padua, Italy, pooled resources and bought company after it hit hard times following economic crisis in Europe; Zanardi's workers represent many throughout Europe who hope their specialized artisanal work will give them unique niche in globalized marketplace, though some experts say odds are that such businesses will not survive long. MORE

Apr. 4, 2015

Stephane Le Foll, French agriculture minister, announces blockade on imports of vegetables from southern Puglia region of Italy due to bacterial outbreak, which is met by accusations by Italian farm associations that Le Foll is starting trade war. MORE

Apr. 1, 2015

Italian Prime Min Matteo Renzi at 40 is youngest in country's history, positioning himself as Europe's insurgent insider; brash and boastful, he promises to take down Italy's broken political system and rebuild nation for younger generation MORE

Mar. 31, 2015

Some of the 20,000 editions seized two years ago from the private library of Marcello Dell’Utri had been removed “in a manner and at a time still unknown.” MORE

Mar. 28, 2015

Italy's Supreme Court of Cassation overturns murder convictions of former American exchange student Amanda Knox and Italian man Raffaele Sollecito; defendants are granted full acquittal in 2007 stabbing death of British student Meredith Kercher; full exoneration in such a complicated case is uncommon in the Italian justice system, and many react with initial disbelief. MORE

Mar. 26, 2015

Italy's highest court postpones by two days ruling on whether to uphold convictions of Amanda Knox and Raffaele Sollecito for 2007 murder of Meredith Kercher. MORE

Mar. 25, 2015

Italy's highest court will issue final ruling on case of American college student Amanda Knox and her Italian boyfriend Raffaele Sollecito, who were accused of murdering British exchange student Meredith Kercher; ruling could start extradition process for Knox, who returned to Washington State in 2011 upon her acquittal. MORE

Mar. 24, 2015

Court case in Bologna, Italy, over whether to allow Catholic Easter blessing on grounds of elementary school is latest manifestation in country's drift away from government ties with Catholic Church. MORE

Mar. 18, 2015

Germany, France and Italy announce they will follow Britain and join Chinese-led Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, over objections made by United States; decision is likely to help Chinese Pres XI Jinping's efforts to alter global balance of power, and raises possibility that World Bank and International Monetary Fund will diminish in influence. MORE

Mar. 12, 2015

Italy's highest court upholds former Prime Min Silvio Berlusconi's acquittal in case in which he is accused of paying for sex with underage Moroccan prostitute Karima el-Mahroug; question remains as to whether acquittal will improve Berlusconi's fallen political standing. MORE

Mar. 8, 2015

Helene Stapinski travel article shares her return to Basilicata region on Italy's Ionian coast, home to her family four generations earlier; area, which includes Grassano, is dotted with Greek ruins, historic Christian churches and is largely free of tourists. MORE

{"type":"article","show_header_text":false,"header":"Articles","query":"","search_query":"(glocations.contains:\"Italy\" OR glocations.contains:\"\\(Italy\\)\") AND -type_of_material:\"Editorial\" AND -type_of_material:\"Correction\" AND -type_of_material:\"Obituary\" AND -type_of_material:\"paid death notice\" AND -headline:\"paid notice\" AND -type_of_material:\"Caption\" AND -type_of_material:\"Summary\" AND -type_of_material:\"Schedule\" AND -type_of_material:\"Letter\" AND -news_desk:\"Travel\" AND -news_desk:\"Escapes\" AND -news_desk:\"Dining\" AND -news_desk:\"Fashion\" AND -news_desk:\"Fashions\" AND -news_desk:\"Style\" AND -news_desk:\"Styles\" AND -news_desk:\"Society\" AND -news_desk:\"Home\" AND -news_desk:\"Home\/Style\" AND -news_desk:\"Living\" AND -news_desk:\"Beauty\" AND -news_desk:\"Design\" AND -news_desk:\"Theater\" AND -subject:\"Theater\" AND -news_desk:\"Movies\" AND -subject:\"Motion Pictures\" AND -subject:\"Movies\" AND -news_desk:\"Great Homes and Destinations\"","num_search_articles":"30","show_summary":true,"show_byline":true,"show_pub_date":true,"hide_thumbnails":false,"show_kicker":false,"show_title":false,"show_related_topics":true,"show_rad_links":true,"show_subtopics":true,"exclude_topics":"ITALY","more_on_header":"MORE ON ITALY AND:","alternate_index_subidx":"","show_thumbnails":true}